A small red and white flag in the walls of the European Defense Agency

(BRUXELLES2) The European Defense Agency has one more member... with Switzerland. The Swiss Confederation today signed an "administrative arrangement" with the European Defense Agency; an agreement that allows it to participate in European Defense projects. Switzerland, a neutral state par excellence, nevertheless maintains a defense industry and is interested in certain research and technology projects developed within the Agency, more particularly those concerning drones, cyber security, the fight against IED (improvised explosive devices) and the establishment of rules for public procurement. As the Swiss Ambassador, Jacques de Watteville, recalled during the signing: " Switzerland is a very close partner of the European Union. (...) The close cooperation in the field of armaments will develop for the benefit of the European Union as well as Switzerland”.

The European Defense Agency brings together all the Member States of the European Union, except Denmark (which benefits from an Opt-Out in matters of defence) and has already signed an identical arrangement with Norway (2006), as well as with the European Space Agency (ESA) (2011). The "associated" countries or organizations can decide to take part in some programs or all of them, as they see fit, and provide the necessary funding or expertise; they do not, however, participate in the decision-making and institutional process within the Agency, which remains reserved for EU members.

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